José Gabriel da Silva

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of José Gabriel da Silva after a fight with cancer he undertook with typical composed stoicism. He was 84. He will be remembered as a gentle, generous, and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and cousin.

José was born in 1940 in Terceira, Portugal to Antonio and Maria da Silva. They lived in the capital city of Angra do Heroismo along with his sisters Fatima and Maria Alyce, and his brother Carlos Albert. Growing up on Terceira, an Atlantic island in the Açores, gave José a love for soccer, fish, husbandry, and of course tourada à corda—traditional roped bullfights.

As a young man, José served in Portugal’s military alongside his family and friends, like his future brother-in-law Pedro Gil. After his service, he worked as a manager for retail stores on Terceira, beginning a long career working in clothing. It was there that he met his wife, Carmelia da Silva. They married in 1963 and in 1965 they brought their first child Lila, a daughter, into the world. Together they all lived in Pico da Urze, a neighborhood in Angra do Heroismo.

In 1967 José immigrated to the United States with his wife and daughter, a brave change in their lives. Their second child Tony was born a few years later, in 1970. They settled in Hyannis, MA, on Bristol Ave. along with many other members of Carmelia’s family.

José embraced his new country with dedication and pride, learning English without formal instruction and immediately supporting Boston’s many teams. His first job in the US was in the stock room of Puritan Clothing Company’s Hyannis store, and he continued to work for Puritan for the next 40 years. He retired as the Distribution Director, overseeing the logistics of all eight stores. He became a United States citizen in 1978, along with Carmelia and Lila.

Eventually José, Carmelia, Lila and Tony moved a few miles down the road to Centerville, where they lived on Long Pond for three decades. Here, José attended to their property with a precise and fastidious eye, building gardens, walkways, docks, and even a beach by hand. At Long Pond, he loved to watch ducks bob in the sparkling water. Anyone who visited that house has seen his wooden ducks, duck magnets, and bird clock.

José loved to travel with friends and family, especially with his adored wife Carmelia. They were fond of cruises, often departing from Florida, where they spent the winters of their retirement. When his grandchildren grew, he traveled all over New England—and even across the pond—to all kinds of games, hardly ever missing a single one. To his grandchildren he was a familiar figure on the sidelines, standing close to the field or rink with his hands clasped behind his back.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Carmelia da Silva, his cherished sister Fatima Gil of Mississauga, Canada, his two loving children, Lila Woods and her husband Bill of Barnstable, and Tony da Silva and his wife Beth of Duxbury. His parents as well as his sister Maria Alyce and brother Carlos Albert passed before him and were surely waiting with open arms. José has many nieces, nephews, and cousins on Cape Cod, the Açores, and in Canada.

Papa, as he is known to his seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was quiet yet strong, and a role model to many. He was always equipped with just the right solution whether it was his handy little pocket Swiss Army knife, an extra raincoat, a practical joke, a mischievous laugh, a warm hug or just a calm ride home after a bad game. He was always there quietly finding solutions.

A funeral mass to honor José's life will be held Saturday, October 26, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Hyannis, burial to follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville. Visiting hours are Friday, October 25 from 4:00 to 7:30 PM at Doane Beal & Ames. In lieu of flowers, in memory of José Gabriel da Silva, memorial donations may be made to support the oncology department at Cape Cod Hospital through the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, PO Box 370, Hyannis, MA, 02601 or online at www.givetocchc.org.